Farm Programs & Local Resources
Last Updated: March 2026 | Always verify with your local USDA office. Report an error
About Stewart County
Stewart County sits within the Gulf Coastal Plain (MLRA 133C) region. Elevation averages about 420 feet.
Temperatures in Stewart County range from a January mean low of 36°F to a July mean high near 92°F. Annual precipitation averages 51.0 inches.
Stewart County ran 74 farms, 76,192 acres of farmland, and 445 head of cattle in the 2022 Census of Agriculture. Top commodities: cotton, corn, and cattle.
Quick Facts
| Region | Southwest Georgia |
| Top Commodities | Cotton, Corn, Cattle & calves, Honey |
Current Conditions
Drought status: Abnormally Dry (D0) — monitor conditions.
Source: U.S. Drought Monitor · Updated 2026-09-08
Your Local USDA Offices
Your nearest USDA Service Center houses both NRCS (conservation programs like EQIP and CSP) and FSA (loans, disaster assistance, farm numbers). Here are the offices serving Stewart County.
NRCS Office (EQIP, CSP, conservation)
127 William Bowen Pointe, Americus, GA 31719
FSA Office (loans, disaster, farm numbers)
177 Montgomery Street, Preston, GA 31824
Office info is from USDA’s published directory. Call ahead to confirm hours before visiting.
What to do when you call: Ask to schedule a meeting with a conservation planner (for EQIP/CSP) or a loan officer (for FSA programs). Mention the type of operation you run and what improvements you're considering.
Forage and Grazing in Stewart County
Pasture and rangeland make up roughly 2% of farmland in Stewart County, about 1,834 acres. On a 2021–2025 satellite average, green-up typically begins around April and forage peaks in June. FSA sets the county’s normal grazing period separately; ask your office to confirm it, because LFP counts only the drought weeks that fall inside it.
Farm Structure in Stewart County
Farms in Stewart County average 1,030 acres, and about 6% are small operations. Roughly 33% of producers are 65 or older, which is where succession and transfer planning tends to come up. About 2,615 acres are irrigated.
What Tends to Fit in Stewart County
Stewart County's top commodities in the 2022 Census were cotton, grain, and corn. That mix shapes which conservation practices tend to be worth asking about — for grazing operations, prescribed grazing, livestock water development, and cross-fencing; for row-crop ground, cover crops, residue management, and ARC/PLC election; and for rangeland, brush management. Your local NRCS office sets the ranking pools each year and can tell you which ones your operation falls into.
Programs for Stewart County Operations
Based on Stewart County's agricultural profile, these programs are most relevant:
EQIP promotes irrigation efficiency and erosion control practices to prevent gully formation like Providence Canyon. CRP targets highly erodible cropland conversion to permanent cover.
Not sure which programs fit? Run our free eligibility screener. Two minutes, personalized action packet.
Local Conservation Priorities
Each county's NRCS Local Working Group sets the conservation practices that score highest for EQIP funding. Knowing your county's priorities before you apply can significantly improve your ranking.
How to find your county's priorities:
- Call your local NRCS office and ask: "What practices is the Local Working Group prioritizing this year?"
- Ask which EQIP ranking pool your operation fits (there may be separate pools for livestock, cropland, forestry, etc.)
- Check your state NRCS website for published ranking criteria
Bordering Counties
If your operation extends into or you compare conditions against adjacent counties, see Barbour County, Alabama, Russell County, Alabama, Chattahoochee County, Georgia, Marion County, Georgia, Quitman County, Georgia, and Randolph County, Georgia. Ranking criteria and cost-share rates can vary county by county even within the same state.
Your Next Steps in Stewart County
- Run the eligibility screener: Free Screener
- Find your USDA Service Center: Service Center Locator
- Read the Georgia guide: Georgia Farm Programs Guide
Part of Farmer's Navigator. Built by ranchers. Every guide on this site is free.